Mobile communication terminal with multi-input device and method of using the same

• US 20050140657A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hark-Sang, Ryu, Yeong-Moo, Choi, Do-Hwan, Suh, Byung-Hwan, Park, Tae-Won
• Granted Patent: US 7,397,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/043 the operating member being rotatable around wobbling axis for additional switching functions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/01 also rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal with a multi-input device and a method of using the same is provided. The mobile terminal performs an entry function and a search function using a multi-entry unit. The multi-entry unit includes a light-emitting sheet having a variety of colors, and being illuminated with designated colors according to character categories during a touch-entry mode for a key entry function; a sense pad for detecting a key entry signal during the touch-entry mode, and detecting a selection signal generated by rotation during the wheel mode; a transparent ground sheet for separating the sense pad from the light-emitting sheet; and an injection material in which characters displayed during the touch-entry mode are differently formed according to their categories, and the characters are illuminated with their unique colors through the light-emitting sheet so that desired characters are displayed.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal for performing an entry function and a search function using a multi-entry unit, comprising:

the multi-entry unit including;

a light-emitting sheet having a variety of colors, and being illuminated with designated colors according to character categories during a touch-entry mode for a key entry function;

a sense pad for detecting a key entry signal during the touch-entry mode, and detecting a selection signal generated by rotation during the wheel mode;

a transparent ground sheet for separating the sense pad from the light-emitting sheet; and

an injection material in which characters displayed during the touch-entry mode are differently formed according to their categories, and the characters are illuminated with their unique colors through the light-emitting sheet so that desired characters are displayed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein number data is illuminated during the standby mode.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein character data is illuminated during the entry mode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sense pad comprises a plurality of touch-entry keys for entering text data and a rotational member for navigating through a menu.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the categories are based on at least one of language, upper case lettering and lower case lettering.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the colors assigned to the categories are set by a user.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the colors assigned to the categories are predetermined.

8. A method for performing an entry function and a search function using a multi-entry unit for use in a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether a predetermined time elapses when a first input signal is detected;

b) switching a current mode to a touch-entry mode for detecting a key entry signal, when a second input signal is detected before the predetermined time elapses; and

c) switching a current mode to a wheel entry mode for detecting a selection signal generated by rotation when the second input signal is not detected after the lapse of the predetermined time.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step (b) includes the steps of:

displaying character data when the second input signal is detected before the predetermined time elapses;

determining whether a difference between individual positions of the first and second input signals is the same or longer than a predetermined distance; and

switching a current mode to the touch-entry mode when the difference is the same or longer than the predetermined distance.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of:

switching a current mode to the wheel mode when the difference is less than the predetermined distance.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

determining whether a difference between individual positions of the first and second input signals is less than the predetermined distance, when the second input signal is detected after the lapse of the predetermined time; and

switching a current mode to the wheel mode when the difference between individual positions of the first and second input signals is less than the predetermined distance.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of:

switching a current mode to the touch-entry mode when the difference between individual positions of the first and second input signals is the same or longer than the predetermined distance.

13. A method for performing an entry function and a search function using a multi-entry unit for use in a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) switching a current mode of the multi-entry unit to a touch-entry mode during a standby mode and an entry mode, and displaying character data in the touch-entry mode; and

b) switching a current mode of the multi-entry unit to a wheel mode during a search mode.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step for switching the multi-entry unit to the touch-entry mode during the standby mode includes the steps of:

displaying number data illuminated with its unique color on the multi-entry unit;

performing a call connection mode upon receipt of corresponding numbers; and

performing a hot key function when a corresponding number is pressed during at least a predetermined time.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step for switching the multi-entry unit to the touch-entry mode during the entry mode includes the steps of:

displaying character data on the multi-entry unit in which the character data is illuminated and displayed with its unique color according to category information of the character data;

illuminating/displaying unique colors of the character data according to category information of the character data one by one, whenever a specific key is entered; and

entering a corresponding character when a category of the corresponding character selected by the entered specific key is displayed.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the touch-entry mode is switched to the wheel mode or the wheel mode is switched to the touch-entry mode, when a mode conversion key is pressed.